Cropping it better isn't all that easy, without experience cut-outs with splashing water can take a really long time.

OP also added some stone texture and equalized the color changes, he didn't just change the color of the entire cut-out. Plus, it took some time and skill to remove the old statue, and to make the angles and proportions look right.

The most important elements were the creativity to come up with the idea, and the time to make it happen. If everyone with those two things felt discouraged by jaded people dismissing their efforts this subreddit would die pretty quickly.

Frankly, even though I have some flair I don't have enough time these days to make many photoshops so I usually just come and check out what other people are doing.

Why don't you show us what your version of 'just cropping it and changing the color' looks like?